1. Formal education mainly refers to school education, which is the education that students receive in organized educational institutions, such as our primary education and secondary education. In this kind of education, school teachers educate students purposefully, planned and organized, and students can also obtain corresponding academic qualifications after graduation, which can also be called academic education. In addition, this kind of education can be called institutionalized education because of its rigorous academic system.

2. Non-formal education refers to organized and systematic activities outside the formal education system, which selectively provide learning forms for adults and children. This kind of education is actually a clear education for educators and educatees besides academic education, such as adult continuing education, social training and on-the-job training. What they have in common is that education is not for obtaining academic qualifications, but for improving their abilities.

3. The combination of the two can meet the needs of education in many aspects to a greater extent.